The microchip trend poses a threat to privacy

Uzi Darwiche/ Staff Writer

Technology is an ever-evolving industry, growing more rapidly by the day. 

But just how far are we willing to go and how much are we willing to sacrifice to ultimately merge human beings with cyber tech? 

In the face of a growing trend of cyber attacks from all over the globe are we really going to link our own bodies to the world wide web? 

For people in Sweden who are globally renowned for being tech-savvy, the idea is not just a growing trend, but the way of the future. 

Over 4,000 Swedes have already received their microchips, embedded into their hands just above their thumbs. These chips contain all sorts of useful information stored for the simple reason of convenience. 

No longer do people have to fumble around their pockets and purses for various ID cards, cash or tickets.

And yes, even your personal information can all be stored within a single microchip as small as a grain of rice. 

With the swipe of your hand on a sensor, within seconds your identity is verified, your medical records laid bare or simply the door to your home is unlocked. 

But the tiny tech has met with criticism from a small yet formidable group of people who believe the microchip can present considerable dangers to one’s own privacy. 

It would be much easier for hackers to scan your chip and within seconds have unlimited access to all your personal information including medical records. 

What would happen if a rogue government suddenly decided to collect your most sensitive information all with the press of a button, or the scan of your wrist? 

The consequences could be devastating. 

“What is happening right now is relatively safe. But if it’s used everywhere, if every time you want to do something and instead of using your card you use your chip it could be very easy to let go of personal information,” says Ben Libberton, a British microbiologist living in Sweden. 

My own concern is not only privacy, but what will happen to our own bodies. 

No, I don’t believe we will go full blown cyborg, not yet anyways. 

But I do believe that our human bodies should be kept as natural as logically possible. 

I recognize the benefits of life saving technologies such as pace makers and the like, but microchips are not something that we need.  

To sacrifice our independence and privacy, all for the sake of convenience makes no sense to me and I think it presents more problems than answers. 

I have an 89-year-old Cuban grandfather who continually reminds me, “El adelanto es atrasso,” which means that progress is sometimes backwards. Sometimes the old ways are the best, and if it isn’t broken why fix it? 

In spite of several warnings from people like me, I know this trend will only grow and become increasingly popular. Eventually we will be transformed into a cashless society, but must our bodies be the price? 

Will humanity ultimately surrender itself to this mechanical beast we call our future? Well here’s one critic who’s not afraid to say, “Not my future!” 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

Photo by Jonathan Brinkhorst on Unsplash.